Feeding Pollen to an Ob Hive

Moonshae · January 07, 2009, 12:53:29 PM

The bees in my ob hive got a bit of a late start, and didn't have a chance to store any pollen (that they didn't use in the fall). Since we're approaching the time that they're going to start raising a little brood, What's the best way to give them a pollen patty? Or is that a bad idea? The bottom frame is not fully drawn, so I could put a piece of a patty there.

I'll have to wait for a 50 degree day so I can take it outside to open it without losing bees, but that's not a big deal.

buzzbee · January 07, 2009, 06:59:41 PM

I've grond pollen in one of those little food choppers to where it is more like dust. I worked it through the screen where the feeder jar is normally and the bees were able to use it okay.

specialkayme · January 07, 2009, 08:21:08 PM

All the pollen patties I have ever used were too wet to grind into a powder. If I tried to grind them up, it would just turn into like a toothpaste like substance.

I've thought about taking off the entrance tube, and just placing it right there near the entrance, but I thought pollen needed to be introduced just above the frame of brood, not below it, and not too far above it, for the bees to use it. Is this correct, or am I off? Would the bees even get it or use it if it was near the entrance?

The only sure fire way that I know of is to take it outside and open it up.

buzzbee · January 07, 2009, 08:26:00 PM

It was plain pollen, not a patty.The bees took it well.

Michael Bush · January 07, 2009, 09:25:29 PM

Get a half inch bit and drill a hole in the top. Have some #7 hardware cloth handy. :) Staple it over the hole (quickly so they don't escape). Now you can dump pollen in the hole through the hardware cloth. Next spring take it off and staple it on the inside.

specialkayme · January 07, 2009, 09:27:28 PM

Are you talking about plain pollen or pollen patties?

I already have four air holes in the top, with hardware cloth covering the holes, but I've only used pollen patties before, never plain pollen.

Michael Bush · January 08, 2009, 07:00:12 AM

I'm talking about pollen, not patties. Just don't get carried away or they will carry it all outside for trash.

Moonshae · January 08, 2009, 01:29:30 PM

I only have patties, no plain pollen. I guess I'll just have to open it up and stick in a piece of patty.

justgojumpit · January 08, 2009, 09:27:44 PM

why don't you squish a pollen patty though the screen where you have the syrup feeder?

justgojumpit

Moonshae · January 09, 2009, 10:18:09 AM

Quote from: justgojumpit on January 08, 2009, 09:27:44 PM
why don't you squish a pollen patty though the screen where you have the syrup feeder?

justgojumpit

Because I don't want to chance clogging the screen or ending up with a moldy mess in there if the bees decide not to use it.